She was a team leader at George Hythe House, Croft Road, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, when the alleged incident happened on November 20, 2010.

Ms Bewley told Leicester Crown Court she was never told that the pensioner had suffered a fall or that she appeared in pain.

She told the jury: "If I'd thought she was in pain I would have rung for an ambulance."

It was alleged that Ms Bewley failed to respond to three requests from a care assistant, Gwen Martin, to assess the pensioner, who ended up waiting four hours for help.

After the not guilty verdict was announced, Judge Lynn Tayton QC said: "This case raises very worrying issues, particularly concerning systems that seemed to be in place which created a situation in which no-one took responsibility for the care of this lady.

"She was left in severe and unnecessary pain for a number of hours.

"I hope those in charge of the home have looked at the systems and the staff training."

During the trial, prosecution witness, Mrs Martin claimed she told Ms Bewley that the woman had suffered a fall after being pushed over by another resident and appeared to have a twisted foot.

Mrs Martin said: "It was obvious she was in agony the way she was screaming out."